LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE

Long-term care insurance is an insurance product that helps pay for the cost of long-term care. Long-term care insurance covers care generally not covered by health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.​Individuals who require long-term care are generally not sick in the traditional sense, but instead, are unable to perform two of the six activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, eating, toileting, continence, transferring (getting in and out of a bed or chair), and walking.

Age is not a determining factor in needing long-term care insurance. About 70 percent of individuals over age 65 will require at least some type of long-term care services during their lifetime. About 40% of those receiving long-term care today are between 18 and 64. Once a change of health occurs, long-term care insurance may not be available. Early onset (before age 65) Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are rare but do occur.​Long-term care insurance is an issue because people are living longer. As people age, many times they need help with everyday activities of daily living or require supervision due to severe cognitive impairment. This impacts women even more since women live longer than men and many times, by default, they become caregivers to others.